On 13th January the great Ronnie Ronalde died aged 91. The man that John Peel described as “one of the great British entertainers” made his name through his uncanny ability to whistle like a bird – a somewhat archaic talent these days but still more impressive than anything Ed Sheeran has ever done. Roy Rogers once complained to him that his whistling made his horse,Trigger urinate involuntarily. The three tracks from his 2002 John Peel session included in this week’s When Big Joan Sets Up may well have the same effect on you.

When Big Joan Sets Up 30th January – J Rocc by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Napalm Death – “Metaphorically,Screw You” (LP – “Apex Predator: Easy Meat”) (Century Media)
Plastikman – “EXplore (Recondite Remix)” (EP – “EX Club Mixes”) (Mute)
The Twerps – “Stranger” (LP – “Range Anxiety”) (Merge)
Ronnie Ronalde – “Greensleeves” (John Peel Session 2002) (Download from http://lifehassurfacenoise.blogspot.co.uk)
Sorrow – “Munscroft” (EP – “Search of the Miraculous”) (Inspected)
The Merseys – “Sorrow” (7″) (Fontana)
J-Rocc -“The Rhythm or The Beat” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“Strings Turnt Up” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“You’ll Never” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“Fire Dancer” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“A High Sunrise” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“I Wonder” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“Jetsetting” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“Ya Whole Block” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“Dark Streets” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
J-Rocc -“In Converstions With Parts I & II” (LP – “Beats on Tap(e)”) (Stones Throw)
Ronnie Ronalde – “O Sole Mio” (John Peel Session 2002) (Download from http://lifehassurfacenoise.blogspot.co.uk)
Luciano – “Sounds of The Ghetto” (LP – “Dub Showcase Luciano at Ariwa Sounds”) (Ariwa)
Love Cuts – “Window of Opportunity” (Split Cassette s/w Burnt Palms) (Lost Sound Tapes)
Aphex Twin – “diskhat 1” (EP – “Computer Controlled Acoustic Sounds Pt 2”) (Warp)
Ronnie Ronalde – “Mockingbird Hill” (John Peel Session 2002) (Download from http://lifehassurfacenoise.blogspot.co.uk)
Skeptikal – “Playground Chat Back” (EP – “Imperial”) (Exit)

Sixteen years after making Pete Waterman go all red-faced and angry for beating Steps at the Brits Belle and Sebastian are one of the great British ,er sorry Scottish bands of our times. Their new LP “Girls and Peacetime Want To Dance” was featured on this week’s Big Joan.

When Big Joan Sets Up 23rd January – Belle and Sebastian by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Constant Mongrel – “New Shapes” (7″) (RIP Society)
Funkadelic – “Old Fool” (LP – “First Ya Gotta Shake The Gate”) (The C Kunspyruhzy)
Cronische – “Noisebreak” (LP – “Noisebreak Remix”) (Bandcamp)
Belle and Sebastian – “Perfect Couples” (LP – “Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance”) (Matador)
Jacob Miller and Inner Circle – “Tenement Yard” (LP – “Tenement Yard”) (Island)
Jacob Miller and Chronixx – “Tenement Yard” (Download single) (Dubshot)
David Shrigley and Malcom Middleton – “Dear Brain” (LP – “Music And Words”) (Melodic)
Deft – “Blue Jasmine” (EP – “Blue Jasmine”) (Project Mooncircle)
Belle and Sebastian – “The Cat With The Cream” (LP – “Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance”) (Matador)
Napalm Death – “Cesspits” (LP – “Apex Predator:Easy Meat”) (Century Media)
DJ Pound – “Thought Machine” (LP – “Thought Machine”) (Saturate!)
Milk Dick – “Girls Have Needs” (EP – “Cash Now”) (Bandcamp)
The Bonzo Dog Band – “Canyons Of Your Mind” (Download EP – “Top Gear Session”) (BBC Recordings)
Belle and Sebastian – “Ever Had A Little Faith” (LP – “Girls In Peacetime Want To Dance”) (Matador)
Sly and Robbie – “Satan Fall” (LP – “Dub Rising”) (Funky Gemini)

Everybody loves a bit of VFM especially in January and so with that in mind two featured LP’s on this week’s programme one from Shrapnel which is impossible to describe in mere words and one from future of hardcore Gas Rag that has a willy on the cover. Bargain!

When Big Joan Sets Up 16th Jan – Shrapnel/Gas Rag by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Belle and Sebastian – “Nobody’s Empire” (Download single) (Matador)
Kid Autumn – “White Wrapperz” (LP -“#1”) (Bandcamp)
Rupie Edwards – “Irie Feelings” (V/A LP – “20 Reggae Greats Volume 4”) (Trojan)
Shrapnel – “Ice Hat” (LP – “Tobacco Dreams”) (Tenth Court)
Sleater Kinney – “Surface Envy” (LP – “No Cities To Love”) (Sub Pop)
Scott Brown – “War” (Download) (Evolution)
Gas Rag – “Drugs and Violence” (LP – “..Beats Off”) (Beach Impediment)
Gas Rag – “Annihilation” (LP – “..Beats Off”) (Beach Impediment)
Gas Rag – “The Clock” (LP – “..Beats Off”) (Beach Impediment)
Gas Rag – “Criminal Gas” (LP – “..Beats Off”) (Beach Impediment)
Gas Rag – “Body Bags” (LP – “..Beats Off”) (Beach Impediment)
Assassin – “Different Ting” (V/A LP “Wow Riddim”) (Biggy Music)
Shrapnel – “Hickford One” (LP – “Tobacco Dreams”) (Tenth Court)
Aesop Rock – “Bug Zapper” (Download single) (Rhymesayers)
Legendary Wings – “Leaving Home” (LP – “Do You See?”
Commodo – “Good Grief” (V/A LP – “Off The Hook”) (Hotline)
The Rolling Stones – “Off The Hook” (LP – “Rolling Stones No.2”) (Decca)
Shrapnel – “Wet Whistle” (LP – “Tobacco Dreams”) (Tenth Court)
Dead Sound – “Lose Your Rights” (EP – “Forced”) (Decoy)

The greatest band on God’s green earth make a slight return this week with a mainly live LP with a satisfyingly ludicrous title.

When Big Joan Sets Up 31st October – The Fall by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Maynor – “Boom!” (EP – “Repeat This”) (GGM)
The Fall – “Auto (2014) Chip Replace” (LP – “Live UUrop VIII-XII Places in Sun and Winter,Son”) (Cherry Red)
Mono – “Cyclone” (LP – “The Last Dawn”) (Temporary Residence)
Jack Bruce – “Theme From An Imaginary Western” (LP – “Songs For A Tailor”) (Polydor)
Talisman – “Nothing Change” (Download Single) (Sugar Shack)
AnD – “Power Spectrum” (LP – “Cosmic Microwave Background”) (Electric Deluxe)
Das Pain – “Haunted Heart” (7″) (Self Released)
Swarrrm – “まやかし” (LP – “Flower”) (DIW Japan)
The Fall – “Jet Plane” (LP – “Live UUrop VIII-XII Places in Sun and Winter,Son”) (Cherry Red)
The Fall – “Sir William Wray” (LP – “Live UUrop VIII-XII Places in Sun and Winter,Son”) (Cherry Red)
The Fall – “50 Year-Old Man” (LP – “Live UUrop VIII-XII Places in Sun and Winter,Son”) (Cherry Red)
Scar – “Old Ground” (12″) (Metalheadz Platinum)

Three from Bristolian roots legends Black Roots’ new LP, an extended piece from the fantasy football style collaboration of Sunn 0))) and Scott Walker and we started with a record that ideally, should have been played at the wrong speed…

When Big Joan Sets Up 24th October – Black Roots by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

The Cuban Boys – “The Nation Needs You (2014 Version)” (V/A LP – “21 Songs For John”) (Unwashed Territories)
Half Man Half Biscuit – “Adam Boyle Has Cast Lad Rock Aside” (LP – “Urge For Offal”) (Probe Plus)
Nurve – “Click Clak” (EP – “Wrong Number”) (Tectonic)
Captain Beefheart and The Magic Band – “Click Clack” (LP – “The Spotlight Kid”) (Reprise)
Black Roots – “Albert Villa” (LP – “Ghetto Feel”) (Soulbeats)
Black Roots – “Carnival” (LP – “Ghetto Feel”) (Soulbeats)
Black Roots – “Drawn To My Attention” (LP – “Ghetto Feel”) (Soulbeats)
Das Pain – “Joyride” (7″) (Self Released)
Echo Pusher – “Bollywood Massacre” (Download EP – “Noize Logic”) (Bass Massive)
Meathead – “Tombé (EP – “Demo”) (Bandcamp)
The Fall – “Choc-Stock” (LP – “Dragnet”) (Step Forward)
Scott Walker and Sunn 0))) – “Fetish” (LP – “Soused”) (4AD)
Jahdubtahz – “Dub Street” (7″) (45Seven)

Just under half of this week’s programme given over to an excellent hardcore mix from DJ Alpha J and MC Eruption.

When Big Joan Sets Up 17th October – DJ Alpha-J and MC Eruption by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Ill – “Hysterical” (EP – “The Housewives’ Trilogy”) (Bandcamp)
The Melvins – “Piss Pistofferson” (LP – “Hold It”) (Ipecac)
Kris Kristofferson – “The Law is For Protection of The People” (LP – “Kristofferson”) (Monument)
Lukid – “The Brick Burner” (EP – “Crawlers”) (Liberation Technologies)
Anthony B – “Rebel” (V/A LP – “Rebellious Riddim”) (Stainless)
P.L.F – “Pinned Beneath The Flaming Wreckage” (LP – “Ultimate Whirlwind Of Incineration”) (Blastasfuk)
DJ Alpha J and MC Eruption – UK Hardcore Mix (https://soundcloud.com/aidenalphaj/alpha-j-mc-eruption-uk)
Allo Darlin’ – “Bright Eyes” (LP – “We Come From The Same Place”) (Fortuna Pop)
Groundation – Gone A Cemetery – (LP – “A Miracle”) (Groundation Music)
Shit And Shine – “Value” (LP – “Powder Horn”) (Diagonal)

After already releasing the LP of 2014 in his collaboration with the Juice Vocal Ensemble the miraculous David Thomas Broughton has also recorded an 8 track EP of cover versions which is currently only available at his extraordinary live shows. Three tracks from it were aired on this week’s programme including a fearless deconstruction of wedding night do perennial “The Locomotion”. Kylie Minogue was said to be “unavailable for comment.”

When Big Joan Sets Up 10th October – David Thomas Broughton – Cover Versions by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Kode 9 and Spaceape – “Pictures On The Wall” (EP – “Killing Season”) (Hyperdub)
Kode 9 and Spaceape – “Sine of The Dub” (10″) (Hyperdub)
Knuckle – “Hand Grenade For A Heart” (EP – “This Week’s Been Hell”) (Bandcamp)
David Thomas Broughton – “Higher” (EP – “Tour EP 2014 – Covers”) (Self Released)
S.P.Y. – “Scruffy Bugger” (LP – “Back To Basics – Chapter 2”) (Hospital)
Anthrprophh – “Space Box Zonk Machine” (LP – “Outside The Circle”) (Rocket Recordings)
The Soft Machine – “Love Makes Sweet Music” (LP – “Out Bloody Rageous – An Anthology 1967-1973”) (Sony)
Admiral Tibet – “Want Everything” (EP – “Change Your Ways”) (Flava McGregor)
A Winged Victory For The Sullen – “Atomos XII” (LP – Atomos”) (Erased Tapes)
David Thomas Broughton – “Song To The Siren” (EP – “Tour EP 2014 – Covers”) (Self Released)
Aborted Tortoise – “Chicks Dig Scabs” (EP – “Demo”) (Bandcamp)
Andy Stott – “Science and Industry” (LP – “Faith In Strangers”) (Modern Love)
Muddy Waters – “I Feel Like Going Home” (Box Set – “The Complete Aristocrat and Chess Singles 1947-1962”) (Acrobat)
David Thomas Broughton – “The Locomotion” (EP – “Tour EP 2014 – Covers”) (Self Released)
Little Eva – “On Top of Old Smokey Locomotion” (7″) (Dimension)

Yeah it’s a cop-out but you try making a title out of LV and Josh Idehen. Can’t be done can it? Not on my wages. Anyway three from the aforementioned new LP “Islands” alongside dubstep, death metal,alt-country,dub,techno,indie pop and a good record with Phil Collins on it. Really.

When Big Joan Sets Up 3rd October – LV and Josh Idehen by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Perverse – “Jacobin” (V/A EP “Tempa All-Stars Volume 7”) (Tempa)
Decapitated – “Exiled In Flesh” (LP – “Blood Mantra”) (Nuclear Blast)
Bonnie Prince Billy – “New Black Rich (Tusks)” (LP – “Singer’s Grave A Sea Of Tongues”) (Domino)
Grouper – “Lighthouse” (LP – “Ruins”) (Kranky)
Gregory Isaacs – “Reform Institution” (LP – “Slum In Dub”) (Tad’s)
Mike Parker – “Flying Nerves” (Split 12″ shared with Sleeparchive) (Repitch)
Joanna Gruesome – “Coffee Implosion” (Split EP shared with Trust Fund) (Reeks Of Effort)
Thrill Collins – “DPB” (LP – “Difficult Listening”) (Melted Ice Cream)
Brian Eno – “Mother Whale Eyeless” (LP – “Taking Tiger Mountain By Strategy”) (Island)
LV and Josh Idehen – “New Pen” (LP – “Islands”) (Keysound)
LV and Josh Idehen – “Imminent” (LP – “Islands”) (Keysound)
LV and Josh Idehen – “Shake” (LP – “Islands”) (Keysound)
Continental SL Kijo Jazz – “Florence Oyuke” (Download – “51 Lex Present Ochich Peter”) (51 Lex)
Sly and Robbie – “Flash It” (LP – “Sly and Robbie Present Dubmaster Voyage”) (Taxi)

Three from the debut LP from Flowers on this week’s barrage of belters and all this too..

When Big Joan Sets Up 26th September – Flowers by Phil Cope on Mixcloud

Inspiral Carpets with John Cooper Clark – “Let You Down” (LP – “Inspiral Carpets”) (Cherry Red)
Bleep Bloop – “Mosquito” (LP – “Feel The Cosmos”) (Saturate!)
Dub Gabriel with Ranking Joe – “Freedom Fighter” (download single) (Destroy All Concepts)
Flowers – “Anna” (LP – “Do What You Want,It’s What You Should Do”) (Fortuna Pop)
Arthur Alexander – “Anna (Go With Him)” (LP -“The Greatest”) (Ace)
Karen O – “Rapt” (LP – “Crush Songs”) (Cult)
Madlib – “Cue 4” (LP – “The Beats”) (Stones Throw)
Aphex Twin – “180db” (LP – “Syro”) (Warp)
The Hard To Explain – “Egotistical” (EP – “Validate Me!”) (Bandcamp)
The Komala Jazz Band – “Ngima Tek” (Download EP – “51 Lex Presents Nahera Jahera”) (51 Lex)
Flowers – “Drag Me Down” (LP – “Do What You Want,It’s What You Should Do”) (Fortuna Pop)
The Flowers – “Criminal Waste” (LP – “Earcom 1”) (Fast Product)
James Bong – “Balkantek 1” (Download single) (DeciKore)
Lowcut – “All Day Dub” (7″) (45 Seven)
Shellac – “Compliant” (LP – “Dude Incredible”) (Touch and Go)
Flowers – “Stuck” (LP – “Do What You Want,It’s What You Should Do”) (Fortuna Pop)
DJ Manny – “Messup Ur Mind” (LP – “Tek Files Vol.1”) (Hoko Sounds)